making theatre "mainstream"...

Fri, 26 May 2006, 01:12 pm

abbz41 posts in thread

Hey all, Abbey here, and a newbie to the forum. There's been a question on my mind...based on limited brain-picking from general public, and finding the general belief is theatre is not a "mainstream" source of entertainment the way rock concerts, movies and partying on a weekend at a club/bar/pub are...so.... Why is it that theatre is not "mainstream" the way film is? I believe to a larger extent it has to do with accessibility and conveneince, but there must be other reasons. Things like: Is it because theatre going is generally seen as a "high-risk" venture? Because the stories are seen to be not as good? People do not want to confront the live actors and the potential breakdown of the fourth wall into personal space...? What is your opinion? And yet another question: any thoughts on how to make theatre more mainstream?

DixiJeff WatkinsPerth based

Fri, 16 June 2006, 11:35 am

Labrug

I must admit I have kept out of this discussion being quite content to simply read through everyone elses comments. Now through a quirk of fate (accidentally hitting the Add Comment button) I find I have to now provide some cort of comment.

When I am struggling with a "how to begin" mental block, I often check the definition of a key word. In this case, mainstream

The prevailing current of thought, influence, or activity, or
Representing the prevalent attitudes, values, and practices of a society or group.

Why isn't theatre Mainstream? One thought is that current society as a whole are a technologically focused bunch. Every wonder why most theatre goers are at the higher end of the age bracket? Is it coincidence that they are also the group most pron to Technophobia? Please note that I am being deliberately stereotypical here.

Most of our potential audience are more interested in Flash Back special effects and immediate results. Scene changes in a movie require no patience what-so-ever. Just a quick flick of screen flutter and you are there. With theatre, you have messy scene changes and all that stuff. Can't wait for that now can we?

Mainstream is quick and easy from the user point of view. Theatre simply cannot stack up to this expectation.

However, I believe that the thrill of live theatre is slowly but surely making a come back. Like those old flares you used to wear back in the late seventies, people are find a reason to come back to theatre. I have been in theatre for well over 15 years and I have seen a definite increase in the number of younger patrons attending as audience participants. There has also been recorded increases in the number of younger people getting into theatre as actor/director/etc.

Is it possible then that the impersonallity of technology and films/TV has begun to overwhelm the the instant gratification factor? I certainly hope so. The amount of traffic on this web site is an indicator of the swelling interest in theatre across Australia.

Theatre is not mainstream currently. It was once, and I believe it could be again.

Happy hunting.

Dixi

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
Fight/Sword Choreographer

http://au.geocities.com/labrug

Thread (41 posts)

Threaded Flat

making theatre "mainstream"...— abbz26 May 2006

It's a damn good question— Logos26 May 2006
Mainstream necessary?— Neville Talbot26 May 2006
Mainstreaming the streamed— Na27 May 2006
dollars— Neville Talbot27 May 2006
- Cheap?— Na27 May 2006
  - yep, cheap.— Neville Talbot27 May 2006
Government Responsibility— Logos27 May 2006
Please don't quote me on— abbz28 May 2006
- Audience figures— Grant Malcolm29 May 2006
Doing Theatre— Logos28 May 2006
Big Brother...— Neville Talbot28 May 2006
Big Brother is a symptom— Logos29 May 2006
Offstream Theatre— Don Allen29 May 2006
- to Don— MMS0116 June 2006
Fringe v mainstream— Na29 May 2006
Fringe again— Logos29 May 2006
- The media— Na29 May 2006
Fringe again— Logos29 May 2006
Sorry I doubled up— Logos29 May 2006
MAINSTREAM THEATRE.— Eugene29 May 2006
- I so agree— Logos29 May 2006
Main street— Walter Plinge29 May 2006
Carry on— Alicia Starr29 May 2006
Arts ministers and the theatre— Na30 May 2006
- Arts Ministers and the Theatre— Paul Treasure1 June 2006
  - And in SA— Logos1 June 2006
    - I'm sorry Paul— Logos1 June 2006
- Stirring the pot— David Ryding1 June 2006
  - >The Age i think has a good— Na2 June 2006
    - I think if you were to— Walter Plinge2 June 2006
help— Walter Plinge31 May 2006
- Email?— Na1 June 2006
- Sus Username— Labrug1 June 2006
  - Common garden caution— Grant Malcolm1 June 2006
DixiJeff WatkinsPerth based— Labrug16 June 2006
Yes well, I think we're beginning— Logos16 June 2006
I don't think theatre is— Na16 June 2006
- Fashion and Trends— Labrug16 June 2006
  - Slowly from the ashes, the phoenix will arise...— Bass Guy16 June 2006
maybe theatre will never— melody22 June 2006

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